Hi, All:
Here's an update on what's going on -
1. Jac Holzman has come on board personally to supervise, along with me, a
whole campaign called "Year Of The
Doors." This Year
Of The Doors will run from November of this
Year to September 2012.
2. This will entail several changes to our planned release schedule, mostly
reconfiguring release dates due to expanded packaging and higher-end
materials we want to use, as well as some remastering and recutting of
certain lacquers due to Botnick suggestions (and subsequent discussions with
Holzman and me) regarding final mixes (he came up with some brilliant
finds/opinions/solutions/suggestions on some vinyl material). This will
necessitate extending certain art and packaging deadlines, and this also
gives us more time to really get stuff as close to "right and perfect" as
Jac and Bruce can. There are two additional products you will see (in
addition to all the ones we've all been discussing here), and we are also
trying to figure out how best/when to release London Fog and the Matrix Box
Set, which are yet two MORE products we're trying to prepare.
3. As a result, you will see the Doors
Record Store Day serial-numbered 7" Vinyl Box come this
Year (on November 25th, a/k/a "Black
Friday"), and the other releases will be rolled out throughout next
year. When, exactly, has not been set in
stone, so DO NOT HOLD ME TO THIS (yet), but I'd think the 2CD set and vinyl
may come at the end of January '12.
4. The 5CD box may come in January, too, or a little later - absolutely no
idea yet. There will be two different digital apps, the first a simpler/more
basic L.A. Woman/"Year Of The
Doors" app in the early part of the
year, and a real Grand-Poobah bells &
whistles comprehensive All-Doors big-ass
whizzbang digital app towards August of 2012. With what he have in mind, we
need lots and lots of development time.
5. We are working on a super secret "hush-hush" cool collectible piece for
September 2012. I cannot talk about it, but it has nothing to do with L.A.
Woman or London Fog or the Matrix box. As/when I can begin to discuss it, I
will, so don't keep asking me about it until then - PLEASE!
6. When we get all of this sorted out - and Jac & I are working on this
every day - then, I will see where we can slot in London Fog and Matrix.
Ideally, I'd do both later, but I know we've been discussing the Matrix Box
forever, and you guys have been understanding (mostly) and patient (mostly),
and I know you want it ASAP, and I feel we kinda owe you that, so I will try
my best to prioritize/push that agenda (and London Fog, too), but please
understand that we cannot "call the shots" anymore - the record business is
in such turmoil, and all labels have lost so many employees, not to mention
places that even SELL CDs anymore (!!), let alone Box Sets (!!!), let alone
catalog releases (!!!!) that it's extremely difficult to get all of this
stuff done. We WILL get it done, I promise you - but as Ringo said, "Ya know
it don't come easy." Or perhaps better, as Bowie said, "It ain't easy."
7. The 5CD Box Set will be the same 2CDs in the "L.A. Woman 40th
Anniversary" release, plus 3 additional CDs of outtakes/alternate
takes/studio chatter. Because of this, we will make arrangements so that no
one will have to rebuy 2CDs twice. I'm not sure what the mechanism will be
for doing this yet, but rest assured if you buy the 2CD 40th Anniversary
release and then want the 5CD Box Set, you will get some kind of credit or
discount to effectuate this. Rhino has promised this to us, so we will see
how they suggest completing it, and we'll make sure you're taken care of.
8. ALL releases will be stickered with a cool, silver "Year
Of The Doors 2011-2012" sticker on the
packaging, so you will know they're a part of the campaign - look for it!
9. All of these plans have been discussed, agreed upon and decided by The
Doors, Jac Holzman, Bruce Botnick, Rhino and
me - just know that NOTHING is being done in a vacuum or is a result of one
thing/one occurrence/one person.
10. As for the "Riders On The Storm" questions, I think it's a whole
different take, but I don' know for sure. One thing I can tell you is I've
HEARD The Doors doing "Ghost Riders In The
Sky" during the session, so THAT'S pretty damn mindblowingly cool! I'll ask
and advise soon on the ROTS issue.
11. When I know more, I will tell you.